Bandits invade wake, rob guests at gunpoint

- Victims got no response to 911 calls

Hours after losing her husband, widow Ivy Khan found herself being held at gunpoint by three bandits who also robbed several guests that had gathered at her Shell Road, Kitty home on Monday night for her spouse’s wake. Within three minutes, the young, well-dressed bandits, who had one handgun, stripped at least nine of Mrs. Khan’s guests of money, jewellery and mobile phones. One victim, Sahab Ali, was relieved of $200,000, jewellery and his vehicle keys. Eyewitnesses said that the robbers, estimated to be in their early twenties, escaped in a white car that was parked at the western end of Shell Road.

Mrs. Ivy Khan (centre) her daughter, Ann Marie, and a neighbour that the bandits had attacked.

Mrs. Khan claims that an-in-law, who lives in the flat above hers, repeatedly attempted to contact the Kitty Police Station while the robbers were still at the scene, but the number rang out. Mrs. Khan’s son, Raphael Khan, also said that he made several 911 calls, but got no response. Mrs. Khan lives at Lot 2 A, Shell Road Kitty. Her husband, Raymond Khan, who had been ailing for some time, passed away on Monday morning. The Khans held a wake that night and the guests were preparing to leave at around 23:40 hrs when three young men entered the yard.  The victim recalled that the men were in their early twenties, and were all dressed in white t-shirts and blue three-quarter pants. Mrs. Khan’s daughter, Ann Marie, realised that something was amiss when one of the men, whose hair was braided, drew a handgun, ‘cranked’ the weapon, and threatened to shoot. “I thought they were joking, then they say that it was a stick-up and cranked the gun,” the daughter recalled. She said that one of the robbers frisked her, but did not find her cell phone. She also took off her watch to give to the robber, but the man made no attempt to take it. Mrs. Khan, who was on her bridge when the bandits arrived, recalled that the robber with a ‘black gun’ pressed the weapon to her back and pushed her into her yard. According to her, the bandit then pushed her through the front door of her bottom flat but made no attempt to follow. She then ran into her bedroom, shut the door and tried to summon help. “I ran into the bedroom with the cordless phone and dialed my sister-in-law, who lives upstairs, and told her to call the (Kitty) police station.” However, she alleged that the number at the Kitty Station rang out. Mrs. Khan’s son, who was also in the house at the time, also said that he got no response when he dialed 911. The widow told Kaieteur News that about four other visitors sought refuge in her house. Those who remained outside were stripped of their valuables. The victims estimate that the robbers retreated after some three minutes and escaped in a waiting car. One of the guests then ran to the Kitty Police Station, located about two minutes away from the Khan’s home, and informed the ranks about the robbery. No arrests have been made. Mrs. Khan said that police visited their home yesterday and took statements. While the family remains traumatized by the ordeal, Mrs. Khan said that the ranks reassured them that they will patrol the area while the wake is in progress.